ehind
the point on their right, and far away in the distance could he seen the
beneficent interrupted ray of the revolving light. Father and son walked
side by side.

"Robert," said Michael at last, "I have long wished to speak to you. God
knows I would not do it if He did not command me, but I cannot help it.
I fear you have engaged yourself with a young woman who is not one of His
children."

"Who told you she was not, father?"

"Who told me? Why, Robert, it is notorious. Who told me? Is she not
known to belong to the world? does she ever appear before the Lord?"

"Do you think then, father, that because she does not come to our chapel
she cannot be saved?"

"No, you know I do not. The Lord has His followers doubtless in other
communions besides our own, but the Shiptons are not His."

"You mean, I suppose, that they do not believe exactly what we believe,
and that they go to church?"

"No, no; I mean that she has not found Him, and that she is of the
world--of the world! O Robert, Robert! think what you are doing--that
you will mate yourself with one who is not elect, that you may have
children who will he the children of wrath. You don't know what I have
gone through for you. I have wrestled and prayed before I could bring
myself to do my duty and talk with you, and even now I cannot speak.
What is it which chokes me? O Robert, Robert!"

But Robert, usually docile and tender, was hard and obdurate. The image
of Susan rose before his eyes with her head on his shoulder, and he
thought to himself that it was necessary at once to make matters quite
plain and stop all further trespass on his prerogative. So it is, and so
it ever has been. For this cause shall a man leave father and mother and
cleave to his wife. There comes a time when the father and mother find
that they must withdraw; but it is the order of the world, and has to be
accepted, like sickness or death.

"Father," said Robert, "I am not a boy, and you must allow me in these
matters to judge for myself." As he spoke his spirit rose; the image of
the head on his shoulder, defenceless against attack save for him, became
clearer and clearer, and words escaped him which he never afterwards
forgot, nor did his father forget. "And it is a shame--I say it is a
shame to speak against her. You know nothing about her. Worldly! her
children children of wrath, just because she is not of your way of
thinking, and isn't--and isn't a humbug, as